Beginner

Suited for a wide range of uses, Level 1 Beginner telescopes are simple to operate and set up. Some initial assembly may be required. Very good optical and mechanical quality. Great for families, young people, and folks who don't want to mess with equipment but just want to take a look. Any of these scopes will show you countless lunar craters, Saturn's rings and a myriad of star clusters and nebulas! Referring to the manual is recommended.

This affordable kit includes a telescope and a ton of great astronomy gear to provide the whole family with night after night of educational enjoyment under starry skies. The StarSeeker II 102mm GoTo Refractor Telescope & SkyLine Kit includes the computerized Orion StarSeeker II 102mm GoTo telescope, Orion SkyLine Deluxe Green Laser Pointer, 1.25" Orion 2x Shorty Barlow Lens, and the Orion Beginning Stargazer's Toolkit. This combination of stellar equipment is conveniently bundled together as a complete solution for nighttime stargazers. Let's explore each of the included items:

You don't have to know Lyra from Leo to locate oodles of celestial objects with the Orion StarSeeker II 102mm GoTo Refractor Telescope. It uses the latest computerized object-locating technology to automatically pinpoint any of 4,000+ astronomical objects, then tracks it until you are ready to move on to the next one! The Orion StarSeeker II 102mm GoTo Refractor telescope utilizes the user-friendly "SkyAlign" alignment system, which anyone in the family can use easily. Just point the telescope at three bright objects such as stars in the sky - you don't even have to know the name of the objects - and follow the simple directions displayed on the computerized GoTo hand controller along the way. The telescope's SkyAlign technology will then calibrate the StarSeeker II 102mm's GoTo system so you can enjoy automatic location and tracking of over 4,000 celestial objects of interest. Night after night, the GoTo StarSeeker II 102mm refractor telescope will entertain you with beautiful views of celestial curiosities, regardless of how unfamiliar you are with the night sky.

The 102mm aperture objective lens and 660mm focal length of the StarSeeker II 102mm GoTo Refractor makes it an excellent telescope for viewing many different celestial objects. You'll be amazed at crisp, clear observations of the Moon, bright planets, and brighter objects in deep space such as nebulas, star clusters, and some galaxies. The StarSeeker II includes an illuminated pushbutton GoTo hand controller, 1.25" rack-and-pinion focuser, 90° star diagonal, two 1.25" Kellner telescope eyepieces (25mm and 10mm focal lengths), and an EZ Finder II red-dot aiming device to aid in the initial alignment of the GoTo system.

Point yourself, and your StarSeeker II 102mm GoTo Refractor telescope, in the right direction with the included Orion SkyLine Kit! Featuring the Orion SkyLine Deluxe Green Laser Pointer, Orion Shorty 2x Barlow Lens, and Orion Beginning Stargazers Toolkit, the Orion SkyLine Kit enhances your ability to sight celestial objects in the night sky, magnify your view of such objects, and to learn about them and when they can be viewed.

The Orion SkyLine Deluxe Green Laser Pointer is a perfect tool for stargazers. It emits a thin but distinct green laser beam that appears to stretch all the way to the stars! The SkyLine provides a wonderfully interactive and fun way to identify tars, outline constellations, and decide where to aim your telescope. It even works in light-polluted or moonlit skies! It's great for accurately pointing out stars, planets, and more for others to see. The Orion SkyLine Deluxe Green Laser Pointer utilizes electronic feedback regulation to ensure ultra-stable beam intensity compared to other green lasers on the market, so the beam remains stable even in cold temperatures. The aluminum pointer body is conveniently compact at just 6" long and features a pocket clip. AAA batteries are included for operation. CAUTION: Use the Skyline Deluxe Green Laser Pointer responsibly! Never aim it anywhere near people, moving vehicles, or windows. Keep out of the hands of children.

A 2-power (2x) Barlow lens is an extremely versatile eyepiece accessory that doubles the magnification of any eyepiece installed. For example, when using the StarSeeker II 102mm GoTo refractor telescope which has a focal length of 660mm, using the included 10mm Kellner eyepiece will yield a view with 66-power magnification (660 divided by 10). If you installed the same 10mm eyepiece into the included Orion Shorty 2x Barlow Lens and then installed in the telescope's focuser, your viewing magnification would be increased to 132-power magnification (66 times 2). Barlow lenses are great accessories for any amateur astronomer, since they allow you to easily double the power of the eyepieces included with your telescope. What's more, the Orion Shorty 2x Barlow gets it's "Shorty" moniker from its compact size compared to other Barlow lenses, so it's easier to find a spot for it when packing your accessories for a night under the stars.

With the included Orion Beginning Stargazer's Toolkit, you'll never be "lost in space!" It contains four items designed to help new astronomers find their way around the heavens.

Star Target Planisphere - Dial in your local date and time and this circular star chart will show you the locations of the constellations and deep-sky objects visible in the night sky on that particular day and at the time specified. It's a great tool for planning stargazing sessions, and for getting the most out of each evening with your StarSeeker II 102mm refractor telescope.

Discover the Stars - A wonderfully written and illustrated observer's guide, Discover the Stars provides a wealth of information on the rewarding hobby of astronomy.

Orion MoonMap 260 - Identify lunar features with your telescope and this detailed map of our nearest neighbor in space! The Orion MoonMap 260 is a useful reference map of the Moon's surface that will help the whole family learn the names and locations of more than 260 craters, mountains, valleys, "seas" and other interesting lunar features you can explore with your telescope. Use the MoonMap 260 to identify craters you've observed, or use it before you go out with a telescope to plan a night full of Moon-watching family fun.

*Offer cannot be combined with other promotions and may not be applied to orders in process or previous purchases. Offer only applies while supplies last and is limited to stock on-hand. Offer expires 3/27/14 11pm PT. Limit one per customer. Prices and promotions are subject to change without notice.

Warranty

Limited Warranty against defects in materials or workmanship for two years from date of purchase. This warranty is for the benefit of the original retail purchaser only. For complete warranty details contact us at 800-676-1343.

User level

Level 1 Beginner - Suited for a wide range of uses, these telescopes are simple to operate and set up. Some initial assembly may be required. Very good optical and mechanical quality. Great for families, young people, and folks who don't want to mess with equipment but just want to take a look. Any of these scopes will show you countless lunar craters, Saturn's rings and a myriad of star clusters and nebulas! Referring to the manual is recommended.

Level 2 Intermediate - These scopes offer higher performance and more advanced features than Level 1: Beginner models. They typically take a bit longer to learn and need some set-up or adjustments. But anyone with the slightest technical bent will have no problem getting familiar with these models. Referring to the manual is recommended.

Level 3 Advanced - These scopes provide the best performance but may require more skill to master and appreciate. They have exceptionally fine optics and mechanics. Some are easy to use but are but on the large or heavy side. Some are intended for specialized uses. These scopes will appeal to the more technically inclined. Referring to the manual is highly recommended.

Level 4 Expert - Expert telescopes offer uncompromising optical and mechanical quality for the most demanding amateur astronomer. They may be technically involved or designed for specialized use, such as astrophotography or detailed deep sky observation. They carry a premium price, but are designed to provide the ultimate performance in the field. Referring to the manual is highly recommended.

Optical design

Reflector telescopes use a pair of large and small mirrors to direct incoming light to the eyepiece.
Refractor telescopes refract, or "bend" incoming light to a focus by means of an objective lens.
Cassegrain telescopes, such as Maksutov-Cassegrains, "fold" incoming light using two mirrors and a front "corrector" lens.

Optical diameter

For telescopes, the optical diameter (also known as aperture) is the size of a telescope's main light-collecting lens or primary mirror, measured in millimeters or inches. Telescopes with larger optical diameters collect more light, which leads to an increase in brightness and image resolution compared to smaller instruments.

For binoculars, the optical diameter (also known as objective lens diameter) is the size of each of the front-facing objective lenses of a binocular measured in millimeters. Binoculars with larger objective lenses collect more light, which increases image resolution and brightness. Binoculars with larger objective lenses are recommended for low light situations, and binoculars with at least 50mm or larger objective lenses are recommended for pleasing astronomical observations at night.

Focal length

The distance from the center of a curved mirror or lens at which parallel light rays converge to a single point. The focal length is an inherent specification of a mirror or lens and is one of the factors in determining resultant magnification for a telescope (along with the focal length of the eyepiece being used).

Focal ratio

The focal ratio of an optical system is the ratio of a telescope's focal length to its aperture. Short focal ratios (f/5, f/4.5) produce wide fields of view and small image scales, while long focal lengths produce narrower fields of views and larger image scales.

Coatings

Binocular lenses and prisms are often coated with anti-reflective material to minimize light loss as light travels through the multiple optical surfaces of a typical binocular. Coatings help maximize the amount of light transmitted through each glass surface of a binocular, so as much light as possible reaches the observer's eyes to provide a bright and sharp image.

Good lenses are at least "fully coated," with a single layer of magnesium fluoride coating applied to each air-to-glass lens surface. Multiple layers of coatings are even more effective; the term "multi-coated" means one or more air-to-glass lens surface has multiple coatings. "Fully multi-coated" optics are even better, meaning all lens surfaces have multiple layers of anti-reflective coatings applied for maximum light transmission and optimal image quality.

Optics type

Newtonian reflectors will have either a spherical shaped mirror, which is less expensive to produce, or a higher quality parabola, which does not result in spherical aberration. Cassegrain telescopes routinely use spheres in addition to other lenses in the optical path to correct for residual spherical aberration.
Refractors use a series of lenses to provide a clear image. Designs range from a standard air-spaced doublet (two lenses in a row) to exotic designs such as oil-spaced triplets and 4-element multi group lenses.

Glass material

Refractors use glass lenses to focus the light, and the glass material plays an important role in the quality of the resulting image. Standard achromatic refractors routinely use Crown and Flint for the two elements, but more expensive apochromatic refractors can use ED (extra low dispersion) glass for one or more of the lenses. Reflector mirrors are made from glass with different levels of thermal expansion. Standard mirrors are made from material such as Soda-Lime Plate glass and BK-7 glass. Glass with Pyrex or other low thermal expansion material will not change shape as dramatically during the cool-down period, resulting in more stable images during this period.

Resolving power

The theoretical resolving power of a telescope can be calculated with the following formula: Resolving power (in arc seconds) = 4.56 divided by aperture of telescope (in inches). In metric units, this is: Resolving power (in arc seconds) = 116 divided by aperture of telescope (in millimeters). Note that the formula is independent of the telescope type or model, and is based only upon the aperture of the telescope. So the larger the telescope's aperture, the more it is capable of resolving. This is important to keep in mind when observing astronomical objects which require high resolution for best viewing, such as planets and double stars. However, it is usually atmospheric seeing conditions (not the telescope) which limits the actual resolving power on a given night; rarely is resolution less than one arc-second possible from even the best viewing locations on Earth.

Lowest useful magnification

Lowest useful magnification is the power at which the exit pupil becomes 7mm in diameter. Powers below this can still be reached with the telescope to give wider fields of view, but the image no longer becomes brighter at a lower power. This is due to the fact that the exit pupil of the telescope (the beam of light exiting the eyepiece) is now larger than the average person's dark adapted pupil, and no more light can fit into the eye.

Highest useful magnification

The highest practical limit is different from the often used "highest theoretical magnification" specification. The "theoretical" limit generally is 50x the aperture of the scope in inches (2x the aperture in mm). So for example, an 80mm refractor is capable of 160x, and a 10" telescope is theoretically capable of 500x magnification.
But after approximately 300x, theory breaks down and real world problems take over. The atmosphere above us is constantly in motion, and it will distort the image seen through the telescope. This effect may not be noticeable at lower powers, but at higher powers the atmosphere will dramatically blur the object, reducing the quality of the image. On a good night (a night where the air above is steady and the stars aren't twinkling), the practical upper limit of a large telescope is 300x, even thought the theoretical limit may be much higher. This doesn't mean the scope will never be able to reach those higher "theoretical" powers - there will be that rare night where the atmosphere is perfectly still and the scope can be pushed past it's practical limit, but those nights will be few and far between.

Astro-imaging capability

The astro-photographic capability of the telescope is based on the style, stability, and accuracy of the mount and tripod. Telescopes on either very lightweight mounts or non tracking mounts (such as Dobsonians) are capable of only very short exposures such as lunar photographs. If a motor drive is attached to an equatorial mount, even a small lightweight mount is capable of capturing some planetary detail. Larger EQ mounts that utilize very precise tracking and excellent stability are capable of longer exposure deep-sky photography.

Computerized compatibility

Some mounts are compatible with a motorized Go-To system for fully automated computer finding of objects in the night sky. Others mounts are compatible with computer finding systems which require the user to manually move the mount to the object's position as indicated by the computer finder.

Warranty

This warranty gives you specific legal rights. It is not intended to remove or restrict your other legal rights under applicable local consumer law; your state or national statutory consumer rights governing the sale of consumer goods remain fully applicable.

Orders received by 1pm Eastern Time for in-stock items ship the same business day. Orders received after 1pm will ship the next business day. When an item is not in-stock we will ship it as soon as it becomes available. Typically in-stock items will ship first and backordered items will follow as soon as they are available. You have the option in check out to request that your order ship complete, if you'd prefer.

At Orion, we are committed to sharing our knowledge and passion for astronomy and astrophotography with the amateur astronomy community. Visit the Orion Community Center for in-depth information on telescopes, binoculars, and astrophotography. You can find astrophotography "how to" tips and share your best astronomy pictures here. Submit astronomy articles, events, and reviews, and even become a featured Orion customer!